Adjustable scaffold structure



Aug. W, 1948. P. A. WYEN 2,446,972

ADJ US TABLE S CAFFOLD STRUC TURE Filed Sept. 1l. 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l Snnentor PETER WYE/v' mmmm (Ittomeg Aug. w, i948. P. A. WYEN 2,446,972

ADJUSTABLE S CAFFOLD S TRUC TURE Filed sept. 11', 194e 4 sheets-sheet 2 y FIG. 3 FIG. 4 7 47 /40 o 45 i l 4l L* [o .1 ,IG d F1 G. 5 30 I f3@ 2B Y lgg: 2| u 30 Y I I Snventr 23 PETER A. WYE/v ma-WW@ ,Mg It Gttorneg Au@ lgg. P, A, WYEN 2,446,972

ADJUSTABLE SCAFFQLD STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 11, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 3|) FIG. 6

FIG. 7

PETER A. WYE/v (Ittomeg 'Aug w, w48. -P. A. WYEN 2,446,972

ADJUSTABLE S CAFFOLD S TRUG TURB Filed Sept. ll, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. wll

Imventor PETER A. WYEN Gttomeg BIMM, m

Patented Aug. i9, 1948 anni ice

The invention relates generally to scaffold structures and primarily seeks to provide a novel 'adjustable scaifold structure which is simple and sturdy and capable of being assembled and disassembled with ease.

An object of the invention is to provide a scaffold structure of the character stated which is composed of a multiple of units adapted to be assembled in cooperative relation to provide a complete scaifold structure of just the right size and form necessary to fit the intended use, certain of said units being readily collapsible for compact transportation and handling.

Another object of the invention is to provide a scaffold structure of the character stated includ- `ing novel means for assembling the component parts thereof in a manner for providing a scaffolding which is as high and as wide as may be desired, novel means also being included for effecting attachment of the scaffolding to a wall of a building.

Another object of the invention is tov provide a scaffold structure of the character stated in which the supporting strength is so distributed that planking of relatively light weight can effectively be used thereon, without necessity of overlapping portions of said planking.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel scaffold structure of the character stated in which means is provided for adapting the scaffolding to use for operations over a house gable or a sloping roof of a barn or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a scaffold structure of the character stated, novel means for forming a work bench.

Another object of the invention is to provide in a scaffold structure of the character stated, 'a novel tool supp-ort and mounting therefor.

With the above and other objects in view that will hereinafter appear, the nature of the invention will be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the appended claims, and the several views illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a face View showing a section of scaffolding embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan View of the parts shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is an end view of the scaffolding shown in Figure l.

Figure 4 is a detail face View showing one unit of the scaflolding in the folded or collapsed condition.

Figure 5 is a horizontal section taken on the line 5 5 on Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a detail fragmentary side view of one of the connector channel members.

Figure 7 is an end view of the part shown in Figure 6.

Figure 8 is an enlarged detail plan View of one of the adjustable collars.

Figure 9 is an enlarged side elevation of one of the cross members.

Figure 10 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross section taken on the line IB-I on Figure 1.

Figure 11 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross section taken on the line II-II on Figure 1.

Figure 12 'is an enlarged plan view illustrating one of the cross connectors.

Figure 13 is an enlarged detail side View of the connector shown in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is an end elevation of the connector shown in Figure 12.

In the example of embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, there are included base units upon which the upwardly extended adjustable and foldable or collapsible units are supported. Each base unit comprises a base member 5 to which isl secured an uprightly disposed standard 6 which is suitably braced as at l in its upright position on the member 5.

The improved .scaffolding structur may be assembled in various sizes and shapes to suit the demands of a particular job, and yin a small scaffolding structure, four base units may be employed with the base members 5 thereof disposed parallel the building wall with the units arranged in two laterally spaced, transversely disposed sets, each set of the standards 6, after extension units are telescoped thereover, being secured together by a connector generally designated 8.

Each of the connector units generally designated 8 and shown in detail in Figures 12, 13 and 14 Vof the drawings includes two parallel tubes 9 which are welded together in parallel spaced relation with end pieces I0 therebetween. Angle pieces lI I spaced inwardly from the respective end pieces I!) also are welded between the tubes. Nuts I2 are welded to the endV pieces I6, and

clamp screws I3 are threaded through the nuts` to which the scaffolding is being erected, and

connected together in rigidly assembled relation" to provide a scaffolding structure-Y of-.just'the right height and width. Each extension unit comprises a tubular standard I 8 having a larger tube lengthA I9 fitted over and welded to thelowerfend .thereof to form a mounting socket dimensione'dto telescope over the upper end of the respectivelbase standard 6. It is to beunderstood also that in the erecting of-the scaffolding, a1multipleofiex tension units may be mounted one'upontanother to provide' the desiredfheight i of.- scaifolding: A nut is welded to each socket .tube length I9 and a clamp screw 2 I threadedthrough said nut engages in clamping contact with the base standard 6 or tubular 'standard -I8-for securing the assembly.

A collar22 encircles `each extension unit standard I 8 above the lower endlthereof and "hasta face plate 23-welded toxoneside thereof,:inter mediate plates 24 also being welded to-said collar in position forA projecting infparallel spacedrelation to the respective ends of the plate f23=to `form pivot ears between which brace channel members `25 are pivoted as at 26. Amut 21 is welded lto each collar 22, and a clamp screw 28threaded"through the nut may be engaged with .the v'respective tubular standard I8 for se'curingthecollar-improper adjusted position on said standard. A f similar collar unit generally designated29-isadjustably mounted on `each tubular standard- I8-below.the upper endthereof, and. it is to' be understood* that the collar units. on a f given r tubular standard. I8

have` the side secured -face: platesathereof .re- J versely directedso thatzthe pivot ears-provided' bysaid facezplates'and the cooperating intermediate plates do not .lie :inl the.- samef plane. Channel members 30 are pivoted to;thepivot-ears of the collarunit 29, andiwheirextended=hori zontally in themanner clearly illustratedfinFigure 1 of the drawings, said channelmembers comprisel horizontal supports for the'planking supportingdevices soon'to be described.'

When the scaffolding units are. arranged. inthe manner 'illustrated in VFigures 1 4and12 of-the drawings, "the extendedv ends oi? the channel members 39=of adjacent units are disposed in closely spacedV relation. -A connector. channel member '3Irests'upon1and extends' across f the space .between two: adjacent, horizontally extendedfchannel .members .30; and 'each vsaid chan-y nel memberf is apertured ias: at32.zand.hasrp1ates 33weldedztothesides thereof :in position foraextending b'elow .the s channel member: and fstraddlingf'theunderlying channel members 3D in :the

manner clearly illustratedinFlgure 1. See :also:

Figures 2.6 and :7. .Theassembly' of thefdiagonally extended brace channel .members 1. 25; .the -hori'' zontallyzl extended channelv members f 30. vand the*l overlying connector membersl arefsecured by bolts .34 fashioned through-selected .registeringapertures 'in' said. channel members.

kIt '.is ,to beun'derstoodrthat 'as many of the-connectorunits illustrated inxFigures "12, 13 andfl asA Vlll) the planking at proper levels on the scaffolding aL cross plate 35 is secured across the connected units-.infthe-manner illustrated in Figures 1 and `2 ofthe drawings. The cross plates 35 are formed t'o'iin'c-:lud'e'Y` inverted U-shaped ends 36 which fit over the channel-.members 3| and 30 and embrace the same in a manner for securing the extension unitsag'alnst twisting movement about their upright centers. A multiple of cross members 37 cooperatewith the plates 35 and one of said cross mem-bers is'shownlin detail in Figure 9. Each cross; member.VA has.. inverted U-shaped end portions-.38 which4 extend over and embrace the channel members 3| and 30 in vthemanner clearly illustrated in.,Figurev 1 for assisting the cross platef-V 35 in` preventing twisting of 4the extension units;` Thezmain-body portionsof the plates 35 and..crossmembers-3'Iserve as transverse supports-fonthaplanking 39 which-lies parallel the wall. beforewhich the scaffolding is erected. Because. of the natureof ther-supports provided by the planking, lighter. thanconventional planking can .be used, and byv resting the ends of the plank-ing-in.l abutting. relation on. the relatively widencross plates.35.it.is possiblelto avoid the overlapping. fof. planking. Overlapping of the plankingA is obviously undesirable because of the danger ofrworkmentrpping over the overlapped portions-thereof.- .In Figure 4.of. the drawings, one ofthe extension units is shown in the .folded or.collapsedcondition. It will be apparent that byreasonofgthe adjustable mounting of the pivot cllarsomthe tubular standards I8, and the ar- ,rangemenhof theepivot. ears 4in individual plane .members15 upwardlyin parallel relation without interference. It willlbeapparent by reference tolFigure Aof. the drawings that the support channels 30..1ie.in.a .plane at one side of the axis of therespectivestandard I8, and the brace channels.l25.lie in a plane at'the opposite side of the axisof said'standardwhen the scaffolding is collapsed in themannerhillustrated in Figures 4 and 5.- .The ladjustable mounting of the pivot collars alsomake it possible to adjust'the elevation upon whichreachrunof planking is to be mounted.

.It shouldralsovbe apparent that the angular relation .of the.. brace. channel members 25 also makes.it possibleto swing cooperating pairs of the extension units about their mounting centersto cause` the supporting channel members 3U"at one'side 0f the respective standards to project over inclined roof or gable portions.A

The invention also comprehends the provision of special tubular standards et having socket tubes 4I telescopedover and welded to the lower endsfthereof'toform sockets for receiving the upper ends of selected extension tube standards I8. Ea'choftheifspecial standards 45 carries a horizontal arm 42 having an upwardly angled end portiondand-being braced on the standard as at'M. Onesuch special unit-4I), 42 'may be em ployed to support a hoisting device at an upper portion of the scaffolding, or two such units may be employed to form a support for planking disposed to form a work bench for workmen on the scaffolding.

Another special unit may be provided comprising a special standard i5 having a socket tube 46 welded at the lower end thereon to provide a socket for receiving the upper end of a selected tubular standard i5. The special standard 45 may serve as a support for a tool receptacle il suitably spaced and dimensioned to conveniently support the tools of workmen using the scaffolding so as to make it unnecessary for them to make frequent trips to the ground to procure necessary tools.

In the foregoing description there is disclosed a simple scaffolding structure composed of a selective number of simple units which may be readily assembled and disassembled for transport by a single individual, if desired. The scaifolding structure is exceedingly simple in form but is very sturdy and can be readily adjusted to provide a scaffolding of just the right height and width and which has its planking disposed ai, just the right levels.

While one form of the invention has been shown for purposes of illustration, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in the details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

A1.. Scaiolding comprising at least four base units and four upright extension units, each said base unit including an upright support standard, and each said extension unit including an eXtension standard having removable telescopic socket connection with a base standard, an upper collar and a lower collar on each extension standard, two support members extending horizontally in longitudinal alignment from each upper collar, two brace members extending diagonally upwardly from each lower collar and secured in bracing relation to the support members on the same standard, said base and extension units being arranged in sets of two units each aligned transversely with respect to a wall before which the scaffolding is erected and with the support members of each set arranged parallel and in longitudinal alignment with those of the adjacent set, means rigidly securing all said units in rigid assembly, and means traversing said parallel support members for supporting planking thereon.

2. Scaffolding as defined in claim 1 in which the planking supporting means includes a wide cross plate traversing the adjacent ends of the horizontal support members of the two sets of eX- tension units and having inverted U-shaped end portie-ns straddling the longitudinally aligned adjacent support member ends in a manner for bridging any gap between said ends and preventing turning of the upright extension units about the centers of their standards.

3. Scaffolding as dened in claim 1 in which the planking supporting means comprises a plurality of cross members traversing the horizontal support members and including inverted U- shaped end portions straddling and embracing said support members.

fi. Scaffolding as defined in claim 1 in which the planking supporting means comprises a plurality of cross members traversing the horizontal support members and including inverted U- 6, shaped end portions straddling and embracing said support members, at least one said cross member comprising a wide plate wnereon to receive planking in end abutting relation and having inverted U-shaped end portions straddling the longitudinally aligned adjacent support member ends in a manner for bridging any gap between said ends and preventing turning of the upright extension units about the centers of their standards.

5. Scaffolding as defined in claim 1 in which the means for securing the units in rigid assembly includes a plurality of cross members extending transversely between units of a set and each comprising a pair of tubes assembled in rigid parallel spaced relation with means at each end of and between said tubes for encircling a unit standard, means for clamping each said encircling means to a unit standard, a rod slidable in and projecting from a selected end of one tube and having means at its extended end for anchor attachment to a wall, and means for securing said rod at a selected degree of projection from the tube in which it is mounted.

6. Scaffolding as defined in claim 1 in which each extension unit has provision at top and bottom for intertting assembly with the standard of another extension unit or a base unit.

7. Scaffolding as defined in claim 1 in which there are included connector members one overlying the adjacent ends of each two longitudinally aligned horizontal support members of the cooperating sets of units, each said connector member having plates secured thereon in position for straddling the support members, and means for securing the lconnector members to the brace members.

8. Scaolding as dened in claim 1 in which there are included connector members one overlying the adjacent ends of each two longitudinally aligned horizontal support members of the cooperatng set of units, each said connector member having plates secured thereon in position for straddling the support members, and means for securing the connector members in rigid assembly on the scaffolding, said connector members extending over a considerable length `of the support members so as to enable the spacing of the unit sets variable distances apart.

9. In scaffolding of the character described, an upright extension unit having a standard, a socket at the lower end of the standard in which the upper end of a similar standard of another unit is receivable, a lower collar adjustably mounted on the standard, an upper collar adjustably mounted on the standard, two support members pivoted at ends thereof Ion the upper collar and swingable between a collapsed position generally parallel the standard to an operative horizontal position with said two support members extending in opposite directions, and two brace members pivoted at ends thereof on the lower collar and swingable between a collapsed position generally parallel the standard to an operative position in which they extend diagonally upwardly for bracing contact with the support members, and means for securing the support members and the brace members in said operative position.

lo. Scaiold unit structure as dened in claim 9 in which each collar has a set of ears to which the support or brace members are pivoted, the ears 0n one collar being disposed in a plane in spaced parallel relation to the plane in which the ears of the other collar are disposed, thereby to permit the support and brace members to be swung REFERENCES `oI-'rliu The following references areofrecord in'the le of this patent:

Number UNITED STATES `PATENTS Name Date Gray Aug. 31, 1897 Thompson June 2, 1931 Delfs DeCVG, 1932 Uecker et al June 4, 1940 Cavins July 21, 1942 Pollman Aug. 25, 1942 Droeger Nov. 23, `1943 Krueger July 3,1945 Waltz Feb. `5, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Great-Britain ...Oct` 4, 1938 15 Number 

